Liberal Studies

Director Mark Sirkin

Wright State's liberal studies major allows
students to tailor their academic program to
their needs and interests across a wide range of
disciplines. This program is designed for students
seeking a more interdisciplinary educational
experience than is available with other majors.
The liberal studies degree prepares students
for a variety of careers. The program can serve
as a pre-law curriculum. English, communication,
political science, and history courses can help
prepare students for careers in journalism or other
media. Fine arts courses can be combined with other
disciplines to prepare people for careers working in
museums or art galleries in research, marketing, or
management capacities. Others could use the degree
to prepare for careers in library science or in the
publishing industry. Because students select from a
range of disciplines to individualize their programs,
there are many other career possibilities.

The Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies focuses
on the core competency areas of communication,
critical thinking, understanding society, and self-understanding.
Students will complete eight hours
each in the humanities, fine arts, and social sciences,
and then select one of those three as an area of
concentration. With help from a faculty advisor,
students may choose courses from a variety of
disciplines.

This program requires extensive advising
and the development of a program of study. Some
departments may have specific entrance/audition
requirements.

Major RequirementsCore (24 hours): Eight hours in each of the
three Liberal Arts areas of specialization: humanities,
fine arts, and social sciences. In general, the fine arts
area includes courses offered by the departments
of art and art history, music, and theatre, dance, and motion picture. The
humanities area consists of classics, communication,
English, history (which can also be classified as
a social science), modern languages, philosophy,
and religion. The social science departments are
economics, political science, social work, sociology/
anthropology, and urban affairs/geography.

Concentration (36 hours): These are upper
division courses from within one of the three Liberal
Arts areas of specialization. Two of these courses
must be writing intensive. These 36 hours may
constitute a minor (or equivalent) within a single
discipline or come from several disciplines within
the area. (At this point, the student's academic
advisor should be from a department within the
concentration or in the department offering the minor
being sought.)

Related RequirementsProfessional Component (12 hours):
These are courses that will enhance a liberal
studies major's chances for employment or
career advancement, such as courses in business,
communication, computer science, education, and
public administration.

Interdisciplinary Studies (8 hours): These are
courses in African and African American studies,
international studies, women's studies, and other
courses of a multidisciplinary nature. These will
be selected from a list of courses approved by the
liberal studies program director.

Electives (24 hours)
These are courses selected by each student.
Included here are any prerequisites needed for
courses in the core, concentration, or related
requirements.

Portfolio

A portfolio of three term papers from courses taken in the major is also required. Contact the program director for details.